Undergrad Degree: BS

Electrical and computer engineering is an exceptionally broad professional field. The undergraduate program is structured to provide an optimal balance between fundamental theory and hands-on laboratory practice. As a consequence, modern laboratories with up-to-date equipment are maintained to support course work in digital and microprocessor systems, VLSI deisgn, digital systems processing, quantum and optical electronics, electronic circuit design, feedback control, solid-state electronics, and electric power systems. The use of the computer as a tool of design, synthesis, and analysis is fundamental to each specialty area and a computer facility for the exclusive use of ECE students is maintained by the school.

Beyond the early electrical engineering courses, students can branch out in many directions. By carefully choosing electives, they can arrange course programs that accommmodate a wide variety of interests and career goals. Interdiscipinary interests such as bio-engineering, microelectromechanical systems, or power system deregulation are easily accommodated within the flexible curriculum.

Students may devise course programs that prepare them in specific areas of electrical engineering and complement this background with study in other fields. For example, they may choose electives in such diverse areas as computer science, mathematics, quantitative biology, music, or business. A few examples may be helpful:

A student who plans a future in medicine, either as a physician or in a field such as bioelectronics, will be able to explore the various ways that the skills of electrical design and analysis can be applied to the problems of medical systems, including applications of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS).

A student who wishes to pursue a career in computer engineering will find that ECE electives provide a fundamental background in areas such as digital theory, microcontroller systems, and high-speed computer design. In addition, several courses in computer science may be taken to complement the hardware-orientation with expertise in architectures, multimedia systems, and operating systems.

The electrical and computer engineering program at Cornell allows great diversity and flexibility. The extensive curricular and undergraduate research opportunities make possible programs of study that are only limited by your own imagination.

Students who are interested in engineering management will find space in the electrical and computer engineering program for courses in marketing, investment stategies, human resources, business management, entrepreneurship, and engineering decision making.

With background in both engineering and management, many Cornell ECE graduates assume significant management responsibilities within just a few years of graduation.